Family of Five on the John Muir Trail - Segments?
on 04/30/2013 13:59:58 MDT

We are planning an August 8 day family backpacking trip on the John Muir trail. What segments of the JMT are must see and what parts should we avoid? There are a lot of segments and I am having a hard time choosing based on the literature.

Background: It will be my wife and I and our three kids, 16, 13 and 11. We are going to go as UL as we can afford and we have four training trips planned on the East Coast. Still I will plan fairly modest daily mileage. The 16 year old and I have been on long trips in the Wind Rivers a couple of times and lots of trips in the East.

Manfred, It will depend on the elevation changes but it will definitely be modest. My 16 year old son can go all day with quite a load but the 13 and 11 year old girls aren't quite there yet. 7-10 miles a day might be a good estimate.

On our first training hike this last weekend we walked 7 miles and 4.5 miles on the AT with full gear. We have three more training hikes before we fly West so I will know better as we go through the Summer.

Most people say that one of the real highlights of the JMT is from Tuolumne Meadows through Lyell Canyon to Thousand island lake...and out at Agnew Meadows. We certainly thought it was wonderful. And if it doesn't take you all eight days, there are plenty of places to explore around that route...

August is coming up fast and quotas for many JMT trailheads are filled right when they become available (168 days in advance). Do you intend to try for a walk-in permit? That will be a little harder with 5 people.

More questions to find the best JMT segment
on 04/30/2013 15:55:59 MDT

Mike,

You are one lucky guy that your whole family will go with you on an 8 day trip. Do your wife and your kids have special interests you want to take into consideration? Fishing? Waterfalls? Hot Springs? Peak Bagging? Based on these there are different segments and even other alternatives you might want to consider. Think about the following.

1) Would your family want to see Yosemite as part of the trip?2) Would they want to climb Half Dome or see Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls?3) Would your family rather avoid the tourist crowds and enjoy solitude?4) Would your family want to climb Mt Whitney (highest mountain in the lower 48)?5) Would your family want to soak in a natural hot spring?

Here is a trip report from our last JMT (we have done it three times now) May be the photos give you some ideas of what you and your family would like to see.

2) South Lake to Florence Lake (48.0 miles, 8,661 ft ascent, 11,529 ft descent)You hike over Bishop Pass into LeConte Canyon, hike by the beautiful Pete Meadows and make your way up to iconic Muir Hut on top of Muir Pass. Take a couple of steps of the JMT at the north end of Evolution Lake to see the waterfalls from the lake down into Evolution Valley. Continue your journey through Evolution Valley and don't forget to look back when at McClure Meadow - the view is fantastic, especially at sunset. Leave the JMT at Muir Trail Ranch and cross over the San Joaquin River to soak in the Hot Springs in Blaney Meadow for your last night. Finish your trip at Florence Lake (you can even take the ferry across if you want to shorten the hike by roughly 5 miles)

Guys, Really appreciate the help. This is just what I needed. Processing now.

Manfred, This is especially helpful. I think we are going to skip the Yosemite Valley this time. Amazingly, I have the family fired up to do some backpacking so we will do Yosemite when we are in CA car camping some time in the future. Several of your other suggestions sound awesome.

Now to get to work before all the permits are gone (or if its too late - to find other ways)!

Try Agnew Meadows to Yosemite if you have problems getting a permit
on 05/01/2013 20:10:08 MDT

We went out of Agnew Meadows near Mammoth a couple of years ago and had no problem getting a permit. There are three trails leaving the area heading towards Donahue Pass-the JMT, the High Sierra Trail, and the River Trail. We took the River Trail which is very gradual with nice views of Mammoth Mountain but you miss the lakes before Thousand Island Lakes.

One of the stops on the YARTS (Yosemite Area Rapid Transportation System) route is Rush Creek trail head parking lot. So whether you hike out at Mammoth or Yosemite you can hop on the bus and get back to your car - perfect.

Personally I don't find the section from trail from Tuolumne to Half Dome (Option #1b) to be very interesting, especially compared to all the gem lakes on the side trips in #1a. But you do get to see Half Dome and Nevada Falls. On the other hand, as you said, you could save Nevada Falls and Half Dome for a separate trip involving a visit to Yosemite Valley and a day-hike from there.

2. SOUTHBOUND. Pass Waugh Lake and Island Pass, then go southbound on the JMT, slowly visiting some of the lakes listed in #1a, as far south as Tully Hole. Exit over McGee Pass. The McGee Pass trail is absolutely stunning (and will offer two days of solitude after your time along the JMT Highway). It is pretty easy to organize a shuttle between Rush Creek and McGee Pass trailhead; I can highly recommend Rolf from Mammoth Shuttle:

http://originalmammothshuttle.com/about/

A downside to #2 is that the section of the JMT just before and just after Reds Meadow (a few miles in each direction) is kind of hot and tedious, including a trek through a burnt-out area just south of Reds. Try to start southbound out of Reds first thing in the morning, when it's still cool.